INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — For those caring for a friend, family member or patient with Alzheimer’s disease, it is vital to know there is support that can help make the journey easier. While there are no cures for Alzheimer’s, there are resources that can provide caregivers inspiration and hope.
Bringing those resources to caregivers is the purpose of the Alzheimer & Parkinson Association of Indian River County’s 9th annual Day of Hope Alzheimer Caregivers Conference. The “Day of Hope” will take place 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Wednesday, March 26, 2014, at the First Presbyterian Church, 520 Royal Palm Boulevard in Vero Beach.
The event, which is designed to educate and uplift caregivers, is open to the public and offers continuing education units for healthcare professionals.
This year’s conference will feature Betsy Broyles-Arnold and her daughter Molly Arnold Gay of CareGivers United. Broyles-Arnold helped her father Coach Frank Broyles write “Coach Broyles’ Playbook for Alzheimer’s Caregivers” to share the knowledge they acquired caring for her mother who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.
Through the playbook and public speaking, they share their experience so others can take what they learned to make their own journey as caregivers a little bit easier.
“We consider Coach Broyles’ playbook our go-to book. It’s a great resource for all Alzheimer caregivers and is especially well-received by male caregivers as it is written like a football playbook,” said APA Executive Director Peggy Cunningham. “We know that hearing Betsy and Molly share their family’s story will be inspiring for caregivers.”
The conference will also include Dr. James Shafer of Vero Orthopedics and Vero Neurology. Dr. Shafer specializes in a wide variety of neurological disorders and has served as chairman of the Department of Neurology and Psychiatry at Indian River Medical Center.
“We are fortunate to have this caliber of speakers for our conference. Betsy Broyles-Arnold and her daughter Molly have traveled all over the United States speaking to different organizations to help caregivers and Dr. Shafer’s expertise in the field of neurology is well-respected,” added Cunningham. “We expect caregivers to walk away from this conference with strategies and tips that will help them and those they care for.”
To register to attend the conference, contact APA by calling (772) 563-0505. The conference registration fee is $15 and includes a boxed lunch.
For more information about the Alzheimer & Parkinson Association of Indian River County, including the programs and services it offers caregivers, visit www.alzpark.org.
